SHILLONG, Sep 13: The Meghalaya government is planning to park some funds with the deputy commissioners to ensure execution of immediate action in the event of damage to houses of people during natural calamities, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma told the state Assembly here on Tuesday.
In his supplementary reply during the Question Hour on third day of the Autumn Session, Sangma said that the idea was proposed during the recent meeting with the DCs to discuss matters relating to natural disasters.
“I feel that it is not fair for people to wait for two to three years to receive the financial relief for the damages to the houses. We do not want people whose houses are damaged to suffer due to the long process,” Sangma said.
Informing the House about a decision that the meeting had arrived at, the CM said besides Rs 25 lakh for general relief, more funds will be parked with the DCs to provide relief to victim.
He added that effort is on to understand how specific funds can be kept with the DCs for the purpose.
Earlier, Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Kyrmen Shylla, in his response to a question by TMC MLA George B Lyngdoh, said a total of 187 households had suffered damages due to natural calamities in April 2022 under Bhoirymbong Block in Ri-Bhoi.
“The total amount of loss reported was to the tune of Rs 13.94 lakh. The amount released so far to the various affected households is Rs 8.79 lakh. An amount of Rs 5.15 lakh is due for payment to the affected households,” Shylla said.
To a supplementary question of Lyngdoh, the minister said that the pending amount which is due for payment will be released after the next meeting.
TMC MLA from Mawsynram HM Shangpliang had expressed concern over the delay in releasing the relief amount to the people affected by natural calamity.
Raising grievances from his bastion, Shangpliang said the affected people are yet to receive any funds despite more than 200 names being forwarded by the BDO of Mawsynram to the department. “I would request the minister if the relief amount could be released to the affected people at the earliest,” he added.
In his reply, Shylla informed the House that an amount of Rs 1.36 crore has been released for East Khasi Hills district alone.
A total amount of Rs 50.20 crore was released to respective DCs for the affected populace, he said.
